Studying abroad and Money Belts

I did a search on UKY and didn't see any threads on the topic of money belts so I thought I'd post this. I've posted in Student Lounge as it relates to the study abroad material my home university has given me. Sorry if it has to be moved!!


I was giving a quick read through the pamphlet that my home university provided on "England" (so not Scotland, it's supposedly ONLY for England) and it makes it quite clear in eleventy-seven places that you must must must get a money belt. The literature makes it sound like they believe that every Brit is a pickpocket, so you should fear everyone and everything! I think if that were the case, even locals wouldn't waste money on purses as they'd all be carrying money belts instead (Which is obviously not the case). I'm wondering if they recommend this because they believe study abroad applicants will make themselves conspicuously touristy and therefore draw attention from would-be theives. Either that, or they want to be sure if you don't buy one and all your stuff is stolen, they can say "see, we told you so!" and then have no liability.

Any opinions? I'm really quite interested in this. Seems weird to me!

I haven't used a money belt.. ever.  Carry your money like you would normally.  The UK isn't any different than being anywhere else.  Strange that your uni told you to have one.  I've never heard of such a thing...  my uni never said a word about 'safety'.

I went on a backpacking trip last year for a few months all through Europe.  I think I used my money belt 4 times in two months (at uber-touristy-picketpocket-havens: Eiffel Tower, Trevi Fountain). 

Get a purse or sac with a zipper and multiple compartments, don't flash your money around, and remember where everything is and you will be fine.  If you feel like you're in a dodgy area, keep your hand over the main zipper.

I remember all the literature said I was going to be robbed blindly if I didn't wear one, but the truth is if you're constantly alert, secure, and careful, there's not a whole lot a pickpocket can do. 

The only place I've ever worn a money belt was in a developing country - one of the rougher areas of Guatemala City - I've never worn one in the UK, nor when travelling in Europe.

Of course, every city will have pickpockets, but even in places like Central London, where the authorities warn you to to be extra careful with your belongings, the most I've ever done is hold my purse tightly to my side, with my hand firmly over the zip as I walk through the streets.

Really, one of the main things you have to be careful about is withdrawing money from an ATM, because it's not hard for people to look over your shoulder to see your PIN number - as long as you shield the keypad from view when using the ATM, you should be fine.

If I have to carry my valuables around, I carry them in a neck pouch - a money belt is a huge pain.  But for everyday living, I just carry my purse.  It has a zipper and a flap so in busy areas, I wear it across my body, and close the zipper and flap. 

I just carry my purse.  It has a zipper and a flap so in busy areas, I wear it across my body, and close the zipper and flap. 

That's how I usually do it.  Sometimes if I have pockets on my trousers I'll put my money in a front pocket, but normally just keep a good hold on my purse.  It always gets me when i see women walking around with their purse behind their back wide open.

That's how I usually do it.  Sometimes if I have pockets on my trousers I'll put my money in a front pocket, but normally just keep a good hold on my purse.  It always gets me when i see women walking around with their purse behind their back wide open.

A friend of mine from California came to visit me in London and she had a very fashionable handbag that was just closed with a tab snap (more like a bridge tab snap), and she walked around London with her purse, carrying her passport and all her id and money wide open!  I'm shocked she didn't get picked!

erm..no.  You're about at much risk at getting pickpocketed in England as you would be at home in the States, so I just carry my money the way I've always done...in my wallet

 I do get a bit nervous when I have to carry my passport somewhere (which is rare...95% of the time my passport is safely in my desk drawer at home) but I just stick anything valuable in a zippered pocket in my purse and go on my merry way

It's probably more important to watch your bags/money when you're NOT walking around. I had a bag with EVERYTHING in it stolen while I was in a UK pub a couple of summers ago, it was next to me on the floor and none in our group of 8 people saw anything unusual.